Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson British rock band Arrow Valley aims to make its mark in the rock and metal scene with its latest EP, "Embodiment," which was released last week. The heavy rock band followed up their debut EP, "You Are Not Alone," with a dynamic album featuring five tracks. Their sound is influenced by the soaring melodies of Creed and Alter Bridge and the aggressive metal style of Killswitch Engage. The band combines hard rock with metal elements to create an emotionally charged mini-release. The band, which formed last year, hails from the West Midlands in England. They are led by vocalist Arron Turner and guitarist Luke Hatton and are joined by bassist Abbas Ali, guitarist Nicky Hughes, and drummer Mark Harris Bristow. Hatton produced the album at his home and Vault Studios in Kidderminster. This helps bring an authentic gloss to the album. Photo Credit:Jessica Hughes The band showcases their growth as musicians in "Embodiment" by blending all

Photo Credit: Robby Klein THE GRAMMY® Award-winning duo Larkin Poe has shared their latest single, 'Mockingbird,' now available via their own Tricki-Woo Records. The Georgia-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell will premiere an official music video today on YouTube. The deeply contemplative track marks the opening song on Larkin Poe’s eagerly awaited new album, Bloom , arriving Friday, January 24, 2025. Pre-orders are available now. “‘Mockingbird’ is a tender reflection on the perpetual journey of becoming, ” says Rebecca Lovell. “When all tallied up, the countless missteps we inevitably take along the way can feel disheartening — but looking too long in the rearview can harm one’s future. Choosing to find the hidden meaning in the many pitstops and messy detours that life sometimes demands has felt like a very important perspective shift.” PRE-ORDER BLOOM Watch the video for 'Mockingbird' below. Bloom, which   follows 2023’

 BETTER NOISE MUSIC has unveiled a deluxe edition of the soundtrack fo r BETTER NOISE FILMS’ acclaimed 2022 revenge thriller T he Retaliators, released last Friday, October 18, THE RETALIATORS ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (DELUXE ) adds seven new recently released tracks from BETTER NOISE MUSIC’s extensive roster.  FINGER ELEVEN, NOTHING MORE, FROM ASHES TO NEW, THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT, and CORY MARKS  are some of the new names to join the soundtrack’s original artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, PAPA ROACH, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, ICE NINE KILLS, THE HU, BAD WOLVES, ESCAPE THE FATE, and EVA UNDER FIRE . See the track listing below. The Retaliators' film has been compared to the effect The Lost Boys and The Crow defined the late ’80s and ‘90s alt-rock scene respectively, . Stream/download THE RETALIATORS ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (DELUXE) now at https://theretaliators.ffm.to/msdeluxe THE RETALIATORS ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTR

Photo Credit: Rick McGinnis  The Discarded, The father-and-sons trio, are set to release their sixth full-length studio album, The Green Door,   on November 25, 2024. The first track taken from the album is the energetic first single, "Testify!"—a fiery rock anthem that channels the band’s signature intensity and passion, which was released last week, The song originated from a jam session between guitarist JP Wasson and his son, Caden, and was further transformed by bassist Jared Wasson's live performances. "Testify!" features a Southern preacher vibe, driven by punk, highlighted by the iconic line: "Brothers and sisters, I need you to testify!" when bassist Jared introduced a fresh, vibrant bassline during one of their live performances song soon evolved into a recorded track. “Jared’s live counter riff added a completely new dimension to the song,” JP explains. Energized by this new discovery, the band re-recorded the track to capture the amplifie

Photo Credit: R.D Cane SLIP~ons  released their new single, "Graystone," along with an accompanying video on October 14, 2024, through Scamindy Records. This guitar-heavy, power-pop quartet brings together two Canadian music legends, capturing the vibrant spirit of 90s rock. Featuring Brock Pytel of The Doughboys and Brian Minato, known for his work with Sarah McLachlan, the band also includes Rob "Shockk" Matharu of The Spitfires on guitar and Shane Wilson on drums. Their sound is reminiscent of iconic bands such as Hüsker Dü, The Posies, Soul Asylum, and The Nils, while also appealing to fans of The Lemonheads, Ash, The Replacements, and Dinosaur Jr. To celebrate the release, they will host a single release party at Green Auto Music in Vancouver on November 15th. "Graystone" showcases Pytel’s signature gravelly vocals and clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, all backed by slamming rhythms, punchy guitars, and rolling bass lines that drive the melodies. Sparse

Artwork: Hugh Syme   Words by Anselm Anderson British rockers Gone Savage are returning with a fresh sound and a new label. The duo, consisting of vocalist Will Glover and guitarist Ian Salpekar, is preparing for their debut label release, "Retrograde," which is scheduled for release next Friday, October 25th, through Muzzle Records . Brad Rolling, Peter Maher, and Gary Williams recorded, mixed, and mastered the ten track LP in the UK. Hugh Symes contributed to the excellent artwork as the band plugged in for this hard rock release. The band's sound leans towards an '80s rock style, influenced by bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Ratt, and Def Leppard. They bring together an intimate and personal album focusing on heavy riffs and solid ballads. Glover and Salpekar are complemented by drummer and percussionist Dex Tyler, who brings maturity and a fresh perspective to the production. The album opens with the lead single "Ram Me Down," a fiery rock track that sets the

Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than a decade, is excited to announce that Coheed and Cambria’s S.S. Neverender is returning with Good Apollo, We’re Boating to Cozumel: XXV, a five-day journey sailing from Miami on Norwegian Jewel from November 8-13, 2025. While the full lineup and additional activities are coming soon, guests will experience a pair of unique Coheed and Cambria sets - one on the pool deck with the whole ship and a second, more intimate performance in the Stardust Theatre - along with special experiences and a Q&A session with the band members. This year’s S.S. Neverender is the ultimate vacation for Coheed and Cambria fans. It features an eclectic live music lineup, immersive experiences inspired by The Amory Wars graphic novels, cosplay, games, and more as the group celebrates the 20th anniversary of their classic album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One. Presale registration is open until October 23 at 11:59 PM ET at ss

  Words by Anselm Anderson Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Myles Kenned y released his third solo album, titled "The Art of Letting Go," through Napalm Records last Friday.The follow-up to the critically acclaimed "The Ides of March" in 2021 was a contemplative piece by the rock vocalist, best known for fronting Alter Bridge and teaming with Slash and the Conspirators. This time around, Mr Kennedy seems to be in a reflective mood, as he muses over some key elements of his life thus far. "The Art of Letting Go" is a guitar-driven record that delves into the artist's influences with post-grunge rockers and the man in a hat. Kennedy, along with bandmates drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Tim Tournier, has created a spiritual album filled with wisdom and grace. Producer Michael Baskette oversaw the recording of this release at Studio Barbosa in Florida. Photo Credit: Chuck Bruekmann "The Art of Letting Go" opens the album with a captivating c

  Words by Anselm Anderson Blues act RJ Archer and The Painful Memories return with their newest single, "Get It Together." The track is the latest from their upcoming album, "The Cost of Loving Crisis."   They continue from their previous release on this enjoyable teaser for the new album. I previously reviewed "Got to Leave," which I described as a throwback to the Delta Blues Era. "Get It Together follows on with a similar charm. The band, which features vocalist Richard Archer, bassist Richard James, guitarist Ben Kingsbury, and drummer Marc Ritchie, formed five years ago due to a shared interest in 60s and 70s rock music. The track is heavily influenced by Chicago Blues, which is evident with the continuous stop-start rhythm throughout the track. The track opens with RJ Archer's unmistakable vocals, conveying warmth and glee, while the bass and guitars combine. The rhythm builds tension, creating a sense of intrigue and mystery, before transi

  [photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann] Vocalist/guitarist/songwriter MYLES KENNEDY has released his final pre-release track “Saving Face.” The song is a blazing rock track that is built around Myles’ driving guitar riff as Tim Tournier’s distorted bass and Zia Uddin’s drums push the verses towards an unforgettable chorus. The song talks about continuing to mark your place in the world today regardless of what others around are doing to drag you down. It is the life lesson that wisdom you gain after being on the planet for a while is every bit as important as youthful exuberance. From the opening guitar riff of the title track “The Art Of Letting Go” to the haunting melody of album closer “How The Story Ends,” MYLES KENNEDY is back with a collection of songs that is sure to cater to old and new fans alike. Songs like “Mr. Downside,” “Miss You When You’re Gone,” and “Eternal Lullaby” showcase the memorable storytelling that has become synonymous throughout all of Myles’ projects. The Art Of

Brit progressive hard hitters , THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA , will release their much-awaited new album , Origins , on Friday 1st November. The innovative duo have just revealed their latest single and video, "Waves".Click below to watch the video.     Established in 2020 in Camden Town, London, THE CHRONICLES OF MANIMAL AND SAMARA (TCOMAS) is a collaboration between Daphne Ang (vocals, piano, and keyboard) from Singapore, and Andrea Papi (vocals, electric guitar, bass, and drum programming) from Italy. TCOMAS is known for its unique fusion of heavy rock and electronica combined with poetry performance. Their debut album, "Full Spectrum," featured the single 'Love in the Time of Pestilence,' which was featured on several popular Spotify playlists. TCOMAS released their sophomore album, "Trust No Leaders," in the Summer of 2022, continuing to push boundaries with their blend of progressive music, poetry, and vision. Their self-prod

    Words by Anselm Anderson Italian dwarf metal band Wind Rose begins a new journey with the release of Trollslayer via Napalm Records today. This album follows their 2022 release War Front , offering another round of modern metal, catchy singalong choruses, and impressive string arrangements with bombastic production. The band greatly impacted the metal scene with their popular song "Diggy Diggy Hole", gaining a strong following on YouTube and TikTok . I gave their last album a 9/10 rating due to the songwriting and enjoyable songs on the album and subsequently entered the T op 10 US Current Hard Rock list. On Trollslayer , the band take a new direction with a sound heavily influenced by battle bands of the past like Turisas and Hammerfall. The tracks have a more serious edge, leaning more towards a sentimental side, rather than relying on writing tracks that will become hits. The production is still as polished as "War Front", giving the sense the listener

    Kingston, Ontario’s post-punk powerhouse,   T he Meringues released  their eagerly anticipated sophomore album,  Pavlova's Dog , on September 16th, 2024. At the heart of The Meringues are Amanda Pants and Ted Evans , whose dynamic vocals are the cornerstone of the group. Their unique chemistry is supported by the solid rhythm section of Jackson Baird on bass and Alastair Morrison on drums, creating an exciting atmosphere. The driving backbeat and power pop melodies are reminiscent  Punk, Post-Punk, Alt-Rock, and New-Wave bands, creating a dynamic and nostalgic sound for a modern audience. Their dynamic presence has earned them opportunities to open for established artists like Protest the Hero and perform at festivals such as Spring Reverb. The band's acclaim is further highlighted by charting across Canada at college radio and winning Best Music Video for "The Lottery" at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival in 2020. The Meringues' sound is sure to reso